Warp knitting machine



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WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3. 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

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. I VENTO ATTORNEYS Sept. 4, 19 M. VAN ARSDALE El AL WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3. 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 v ww/Mm A TTORNEYS.

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WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 A TTORNEYS.

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WARP KNITTING mcnma Filed Oct. 3. 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS' A TTORNEYS.

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' WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct 3, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN TORJ' A TTORNEYS.

P 1934- M. s. YAN ARSDALE 'Er AL 1,972,609

WARP KNITTING MACHINE A TTORNEYS..

P 4, 1934- M. s. VAN ARSDALE ETAL 1,972,509

WARE; KNITTING MACHINE Filed 001'.- 3. 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 9 A T TORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 4, 1934 WARP KNITTING MACHINE Malcolm G. Van Arsdale, Short Hills, N. J., and Lawrence W. Griffis, Tonawanda, N. Y., assignors to Van Raalte Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application 0mm 3, 1931, Serial No. 566,781 6 clai s; (01. 66-86) Our invention relates to a new and improved warp knitting machine, and a new and improved method of producing a warp knit fabric.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide certain improvements in the nature of attachments to a warp knitting machine of any suitable and well known type whereby the warp knit fabric can be provided with reinforced zones or areas, at predetermined points thereon.

Another object of our invention is'to provide control means whereby the guides of a warp knitting machine canbe controlled, in order to automatically produce said reinforced zones at predetermined points on a warp knit fabric. A

Another object of our invention is to produce an improved warp knitting mechanism by means of which a'relatively large piece of warp knit fabric can be formed with reinforced zones, said zones being so spaced and located as to make it possible to conveniently cut therefrom blanks for making stockings, or any garments requiring reinforced zones.

Another object of our invention is to provide an' improved warp knitting mechanism by means of which the cost of production of warp knit stockings will be greatly diminished.

. Other objects of our invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of our invention is intended to generally explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing one embodiment of our invention. In this embodiment, an additional knitting bar of special design is provided for producing the reinforcing zones,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of another embodiment of our invention, showing an attachment by means of which an additional knitting bar of ordinary type can be caused to operate in accordance with the invention, to pro-- duce reinforced zones.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the special knitting bar which forms part of our invention. This figure also shows two conventional knitting bars, the representations of these two conventional knitting bars being partial.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the right hand continuation of the mechanism which is shown in Fi 3. a

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 'l is an end elevation of Fig. 8.

, her in final position, it being understood that Fig. 8 is a side elevation illustrating the mechanism for controlling the guides.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the improved machine.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view'on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the three knitting bars, the presser bar, the knock-over bits and the needlebar.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the mechanism for raising and lowering the guides.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation showing the mechanism for horizontally shifting the eye needles or sley points.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a piece of warp knit material which is knitted with the use of a third knitting bar of the ordinarytype, by means of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. This fabric 75 shown in Fig. 15 is produced by supplying reinforcing thread only to selected guides.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a piece of warp knit fabric made according to the invention in which the reinforced zones are produced solely by vertically shifting the guides.

Fig. 1'7 is a plan view of an improved fabric produced by vertically and horizontally shifting the sets of banks of guides. This type of fabric does not produce a reinforced toe for the stocking.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a piece of warp knit material having reinforced zones, in order to provide reinforced heel tabs for the stocking.

Fig. 19 is a stocking blank showing the formation of the reinforced heel tabs, and the instep.

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the reinforced sole member for a stocking, this being knitted separately from the remainder of the stocking blank and being connected to the stocking blank by means of stitches. 95

Fig. '21 is a plan view of the reinforced toe por- I tion of a stocking, this being knit separately from the remainder of the stocking and then being suitably connected to the remainder of the stocking by means of stitches, interknitting or the like.

Fig. 22 is an elevation of a-stocking blank, used for making a full-fashioned stocking, showing the toe portion secured to the sole portion, and also showing the sole portion connected to the body of the blank. In this view the instep is in its final P sition. V

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of a completed stocking showing the sole member and the toe memresponding to the heel and to the toe ofthe stocking.

Fig. 25 is a plan view showing a piece of warp knit material having reinforced areas for the heel and for the toe of the stocking. The piece of material shown in Fig. 25 is out out of the large piece of material shown inFig. 24.

Fig..26 is a plan view of a stocking blank which is made from the piece of material shown in Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a side elevation showing the lower part of a stocking made from the blank shown in Fig. 26, it being understood that the sole portion has been separately knitted and that it has been connected by means of stitches, interknitting or the like.

While we do not wish to be limited to any particular type of warp knit fabric, or to any particular type of warp knitting machine,-we have illustrated our invention in connection with tricot fabric and in connection with a tricot knitting machine having vertical needles.

It has been proposed for many years to make stockings having leg portions made of warp knit fabric, such as tricot material, but the manufacture of such stockings has been relatively expensive so that these stockings have not had a large sale in the United States, although they possessed the valuable characteristic of being run-proof.

According-t0 our invention a tricot machine (for example), of a standard and well known type can be readily modified, either by using ,an additional knitting bar of a special type, or

by operating an additional knitting bar of ordinary type, so as to produce .a warp knit material having knitted reinforced areas, so that the stocking can be simply and cheaply produced.

It is to be understood that all the figures relate to the first embodiment of our invention, as shown in Fig. 1, save for Figs. 2 and 15.

. Referring to Fig. 11, this conventionally illustrates a tricot machine .having vertical needles N, knocking-over bits 201, a presser bar 200, and a pair of knitting bars 125 and 126 of the conventional type. The machine illustrated ordinarily automatically operates with a pair of knitting bars 125 and 126 having the usual guides S which supply the thread to the needles N, so as to form a warp knit fabric, such as a tricot fabric. As shown in Fig. 11, we supply a third knitting bar 36. In this embodiment the third knitting bar 36 is of a special type, and its guides S are assembled in sets or banks. These sets or banks of guides can be vertically shifted relative to their knitting bar 36,- and these sets or banks of guides can be horizontally shifted along the special knitting bar 36.

When the guides S are raised, they are rendered inoperative when the knitting bar 36 is operated in the ordinary manner. We have not illustrated the details of the mechanism of the tricot machine, because our invention can be applied toa number of well known types of tricot machines, and these details per se, form no part of our invention.

Hence, by -automatically shifting the guides S upwardly, they can be rendered inoperative so th'atthe. reinforced zones of areas are supplied at spaced intervals along the'length of the I fabric. Likewise, by shifting the banks or sets of guides in a horizontal direction, parallel to the knitting bar 36, the lateral spacing of the reinforced zones can be increased or decreased.

An automatic control is provided for controlling the vertical and horizontal positions of the banks of guides which are associated with the third knitting 'bar 36, so that the reinforced zones can be of any number and have any desired relative location or arrangement.

' When using the attachment shown in Fig. 2,

it is not necessary to use a third knitting bar 36 of special design. A third knitting bar of the ordinary type can be utilized, and this is automatically thrown into and out of operation so as to produce the spaced reinforcing zones Rh which are shown in Fig. 15.

The details of the mechanism for securing the above mentioned results are as follows:-

,Referring to Fig. 1, the machine comprises a frame 1 having a main drive shaft or cam shaft 2. This shaft 2 continuously actuates the gear 3 which is provided with inclined teeth 4, by means of two or three inclined segments 5. This part of 1 studs 10 are radially adjustable in the well known 1 manner so that they can be pushed in or out with respect to the periphery of the respective stud wheel, the adjustment being controlled by a set screw in the well known manner. The stud wheels '7, 8 and 9 are respectively associated with 3 rocker arms 11, 1'2 and14 which are pivotally mounted upon a pivot rod 15 so that the rocker arms 11, 12 and 14 can be rocked independently of each other. Each of .the rocker arms 11, 12 and 14 is provided with a roller 16, which con- 31 tacts'with the corresponding set of stud pins 10. The rocker arms 11,12 and 14 are respectively provided with heads 17, 18 and 19, as shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 3, the upper ends of the rocker 1 arms 11, 12 and 14 are provided with recesses in which the heads 17, 18 and 19 fit. The heads 17, 18 and 19 are provided with slots, in which setscrews 20, 21 and 22 are located, in order to permit horizontal adiustment of these heads. This hori- 1 zontal adjustment is accomplished by means of adjusting screws 23, 24 and 25. This adjustment is old and well known in the present type ofmachine which has only two knitting bars.

links and of their respective extensions are controlled by turn buckles 29a, 30a and 31a. As shown in Fig. 3, the extension 290 is laterally curved.

As shown in Fig., 1, the machine is provided 1 1,97aeoo with a stationary bar 3'1, having a series of adjustable brackets 38, which are provided with openings through which the stationary bar 3'1 passes. These brackets 38 are provided with depending arms 39 having holes through which passes the horizontally slidable guide pin 40 which is suitably connected to the third and special knitting bar 36 by means of clamping heads 41. The knitting bar 36 has an extension 43, which is connected to swivel member 44 by pivot bolt 45. As shown in Fig. 3, the extension 29a is connected to member 44 by a horizontal pivot pin or bolt 35. Hence, the to-and-fro movement of link 29 produces a horizontal sliding movement of the special knitting bar 36. The knitting bar 36 is provided with a tension spring 42, the other end of which is connected to the frame of the machine, so that the knitting bar 36 is moved to the left by the corresponding rocker arm -14, and it is pulled back to the right by the tension spring 42.

As shown in Fig. 1, an arm 46 is connected to the pivot pin 45 so that this arm 46 moves back and forth in a horizontal plane, simultaneously with the horizontal to and fro movement of the knitting bar 36.

As shown in Fig. 3, the arm 46 is connected by means of a pivot member 47 to an extension 46a. This extension 46a is pivotally connected to a vertical arm 48 (shown in Fig. 1), this arm 48 being pivotally connected at its lower end by means of a pivot pin 49 to an angular arm 50 which is bolted to the frame of the machine.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the arm 48 is also provided with a horizontal curved slot through which projects a pin 51 which is connected to the vertical arm of the stationary angular arm 50, so that the oscillating movement of the arm 48 is limited. Hence, the arm 48 rocks in unison with the arm 14 and both arms turn in the same direction. The arm 48 is provided with a pulley 52 which is mounted on the shaft 152 on the upper end thereof so that the pulley 52 is moved back and forth in unison with the knitting bar 36. The pulley 52 has wound around it the upper run 53 and the lower run 53a of a piano wire. The left hand ends of the runs 53 and 5312 are wound a number of times around the pulley 52. The left-hand end of the run 53a is connected to the pulley 52 by means of the clamping screw 54, and the end of the run 53 passes loosely through an opening in the pulley 52 and it is connected to an adjusting screw 55 so that the wire can be tightened as desired. When the pulley 52 is partially turned counterclockwise by suitable mechanism to be later described, the run 53 is moved to the left and the run 53a is moved to the right. When the pulley 52 is turned partially clockwise by said mechanism, the run 53 is moved to the right and the run 5341 is moved to the left. This control wire passes underneath an idler 56 and around a pulley 57. The idler 56 and the pulley 5'7 are mounted upon the knitting bar 36. Hence, the turning of the pulley 52' causes the simultaneous turning of the pulley 5'7. However, the knitting bar 36 can be reciprocated without actuating the control wire, save when the pulley 52 is partially turned by auxiliary mechanism which is later described. Adjacent the pulley. 52 the runs 53 and 53a contact with suitable idlers 58. The bar 46 passes through a stationary guide 59. Various guide rollers or the like for the runs 53 and 53a are shown in the drawings, but are not identified by reference numerals.

Each set of guides of knitting bar 36 is mounted in a member 60, and each member 60 can move longitudinally with respect to the knitting bar 36.

For example and as shown in Fig. 11, the member 60 is connected by means of screws 61 to a slide plate 62 and this plate 62 can be slid up and down with respect to a horizontally slidable T-shaped slide 63 and this slide 63 interfits with a longitudinal T-shaped groove 64 in the knitting bar 36. This construction permits a relative longitudinal or horizontal sliding movement between the knitting bar 36 and its guides.

Each member 60 and its guides can be shifted vertically, by means of inclined arms 65 which are pivotally connected at 66 to the top of plate 62, and said arms 65 are provided with slides 67 which slide in a groove of the slide plate 62..

Hence, the guides S can be moved up and down with respect to the knitting bar 36 and the needles N so as to render said guides operative orinoperative forv supplying reinforcing thread to the needles.

In order to longitudinally shift the members 60, the lower run 53a.is connected by means of screws 68 to each slide member 63. The vertical movement of the members 60 and of their guides S is accomplished by means of a wire 69 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 which passes around a pulley '70 mounted upon the knitting bar 36, and the upper run of the wire 69 is connected by screws 71 to the slides 6'7.

As shown in Fig. 3, the wire 69 passes around an idler pulley 73 and a guide pulley 74 and the ends'of the wire 69 are passed around and connected to the pulley '72 in the manner previously described, so that the adjusting screw 75 accomplishes the same function as the adjusting screw 55 which has been previously described. The actuating pulley 72 is partially turned clockwise wise or counterclockwise, by mechanism which is later described, in order to control the vertical positions of the guides.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the pulley 72 is mounted upon a pin or shaft 150, which is located in a block 76 which fits slidably upon the bar 46. The pulleys '72 and 73 may be designated as horizontal pulleys. The pulley '73 is mounted upon the endof the bar 46a, as shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 3, another slide block 76a is mounted upon the bar 46, so that the blocks 76 and 76a can be slid relative to the bar 46. Likewise, and as shown in Fig. 3, the slides '76 and 76a are provided with extensions 155, to which the run 5341 is connected by means of clamping members 156. Hence, when the knitting bar 36 is moved to the left for example, the pulleys 52 and '73 are moved through equal distances with the knitting bar 36, and since the pulley 52 is not turned by the horizontal movement of the knitting bar 36, save when certain auxiliary mechanism is caused to act, the slides 76 and .760. will also be moved for distances equal to the movement of the knitting bar 36. a

As shown in Fig. 7, a cam '77 is mounted upon the cam shaft 2 so that the cam '77 turns in unison with the cam shaft 2. The cam '77 has one tooth which intermittently engages the teeth J of ratchet wheel '78, said ratchet '78 having twelve teeth, so that it turns once for every twelve revolutions of. the cam shaft. Hence, the ratchet wheel 78. makes 160 revolutions to 1920 revolutions of the cam shaft which is equivalent to four series (racks) of 480 revolutions of the machine. Four series are taken as the basis of these calculations. The number of series can be varied to meet requirements by changing the number herein. The ratchet wheel 78 is mounted upon a shaft 80.

A cam 81 is mounted upon the shaft 80 and this cam 81 has a single tooth which intermittently raises rocker arm 82 which is pivotally connected at 83 to a stationary part of the frame of the machine. The rocker arm 82 has a roller 84 so that the bar 85 is intermittently pushed downwardly, thus depressing the member 86. A suitable spring (not shown) is provided for upwardly moving bar 85. The bar 85 has a roller 85a. The member 86 is an extension of a disk 86a which is pivotally mounted to the frame of the machine at 86b. The disc 86a is pivotally connected to a pawl 8'7, which intermittently turns the ratchet wheel 79. Hence, the ratchet wheel '79 which is mounted on shaft 133 is turned one point, corresponding to a single ratchet tooth, for each revolution of the ratchet wheel '78, or for each twelve revolutions of the cam shaft 2. The ratchet wheel '79 is provided with a cam groove 79a, which actuates a rocker arm 89, said rocker arm 89 having a roller 89a, which is located in said cam groove 79a. The rocker arm 89 is pivotally connected at 89b to a plate P which is connected to the frame of the machine. The rocker arm 89 imparts a vertical movement to the connecting arm 90, by means of a pin 90a which can be adjusted in a slot 90b provided in the arm 89, so as to vary the upward throw of the connecting arm 90. The connecting arm 90 is pivotally connected at 900 to the pulley 52, so that the pulley 52 is turned approximately onethird of a revolution by the upward movement of arm 90 and it is then returned to its original position at the desired time, this being determined by the shape of the cam groove 79a. The runs 53 and 530: are thus caused to move in opposite directions in a horizontal planefrelative to the knitting bar. The amount of travel of the runs 53 and 53a can be varied by changing the size of the pulley 52 and'by adjusting the rocker arm 90. The movement of the run 53a also horizontally shifts the slides 76 and 76a, because the run 53a is clamped to said slides by members 155 and 156, as previously explained.

' The required number of members 60, carrying the sets of guides Sare connected'to runs 53 and 53a in order to provide reinforcing warp zones having any desired number of threads. The members 60 can all be connected to the top or to the bottom run 53 or 53a and they will then move horizontally with the wire 5353a and remain the same distance apart at all times.

These members 60 may also be attached half to the top run and half to the bottom run of the wire 53-5311 and they will then move away from.

each other or move closer together. These operations permit the spacing of the reinforced zones across the width of the fabric or across the length of the fabric.

Referring to ratchet wheel 79, the mechanism for securing the automatic lengthwise spacing of the reinforcing zones is as follows:

A cam lug 92 of predetermined length is provided on the ratchet wheel '79 and this lug 92 intermittently contacts with the nose of the member 93 which is pivotally connected to the frame of the machine at 94. The member 93 is prevented from moving below the position shown in Fig. 8 by means of a stop pin 93a. The member 93 is pivotally connected at 95 to a bell-crank lever 96 which is pivotally connected to the frame of the machine at 97. The bell-crank lever 96 is provided with a slot through which passes the pin 98 of a disc 99. The disc 99 has a pivot pin 100 connected thereto, and an arm 101 is pivotally mounted on this pin 100, and this arm 101 is also pivotally connected to a cam 102 which is pivotally mounted at 103a. to the frame of the machine. The cam 102 vertically actuates a bar 103 which is riveted or otherwise connected to the vertical slide plate 104 slidable in guides 154. The verticallyslidable plate 104 has a horizontal slot 105 through which passes the pin 1060 of a lever 106, so that the up and down movement of the slide 104 turns the lever 106 and turns the pulley 72 to which the lever 106 is connected.

As shown in Fig. 5, the pulley 72 has a pin 150a which extends through a slot in the lever 106. The lever 106 is pivotally mounted upon the slide 76 by means of pin 151. The up and down movement of the slide plate 104 prevents the pulley '72 from turning more than a. small fraction of a revolution.

The pulley 72 actuates wire 69, which controls the vertical position of the guides S.

Hence, the guides S which carry the warp for reinforcement are placed in position for knitting, or lifted out of this position, at the required times, thereby permitting the reinforcement to be placed at any desired location, along the length of the fabric. 7

Another link 1110 is also connected to the pivot 100 and to a cam 111 which is pivotally mounted at 112 to the frame of the machine. The cam tions of selected sets or banks of guides, by means of a wire and connections similar .to those described.

The machine is also provided with guides G for the warp threads.

Referring to Fig. 11, the ordinary knitting bars used in the machine are designated by the reference numerals 125 and 126. When using the attachment of Fig. 2, a third guide bar of this ordinary type is used instead of the special knitting bar 36.

In this embodiment the shaft 6 is provided with a collar 128 having a tooth 129 which intermittently engages the ratchet teeth of the wheel 130.

The studs 10 have the construction previously described. A special rocker arm 14a is provided which has an L-shape, and the outer end of the arm is bent over so as to provide a nose 131. The nose 131 is actuated by the cam projection 132 of the wheel 130. The operative position of the rocker arm 14a is secured when the nose 131 drops into the space between the ends of the lateral cam projection 132. The third knitting bar is actuated by rocker arm 14a and this third knitting bar is moved into operative positionand remains in operative position while nose 131 is between the ends of cam projection 132.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the nose 131 merely acts to limit the drop of the rocker' arm 14a. The lateral cam lug 132 tilts the rocker arm 14a, in the counterclockwise direction so as die.

toa'ct'uate the third guide bar, and when the rocker arm is released, it drops back to a position which is determined by the"addacent stud m 10 r.

The action of the third guide'bar is intermit' tent because it only produces reinforcement at specified points. Hence, the third guide bar is keptout of operation for relatively longperiods". The'ratchet wheel 130 is provided with a pawl 134 to prevent any backward movement of said ratchet wheel.- I Referring to Fig. 14, the series of guides A and are connected to each other so as to be simultaneously operated, and the series of guides B and D are also connected so as to be simultaneously operated. This produces the type of reinforcement shown in Fig." 24, each reinforced zone being indicated by the reference letter Z. In this case the series A and C constitute one set of guides and the series B and D constitute another set. As shown in Fig. l, the horizontal movement of the supplemental guides S can be limited by means of blocks B which are-suitably connected to the supplemental knitting bar.

Referring to Fig. 15, this shows a blank hav to be applied- The fabric shown in Fig. 16 is produced by merely vertically shifting the supplemental guides, and without horizontally moving said banks of supplemental guides. This blank is also out along the lines 142 and 142a. Fig. 16 also shows the reinforced areas Rh for the reinforced heel portions of the stocking, which are made wholly of warp knit fabric. Fig. 16 also shows the areas 141 which are waste. Fig. 1'7 is general-' ly similar to Fig. 16, save that the reinforcing threads A are inclined to the axes of the zones.

Fig. 18 shows a piece of material having a pair of reinforced heel tabs Rh, provided with warp knit material in the manner previously specified.

Fig. 19 shows the method of cutting the blank so as to produce an instep portion 1.

Fig. 20 shows the separately knit sole member Sf which can also be made of warp knit material and Fig. 21 shows the separate toe member which can be made of warp knit material. If desired, the sole and toe of the stocking can be made of ordinary chain loop knitted material.

Fig. 22 shows the assembly of the parts shown in Figs. 19-21 inclusive.

Fig. 23 shows a completed full-fashioned stocking having a welt W (which can be made of chain loop knitted material), a leg portion. Tm, a heel portion Rh, a sole portion Sf, and a toe T. These parts are stitched together by lines of stitches Sm, or they may be connected in any other manner.

Fig. 24 shows a blank in which the toe portions are also provided by reinforced zones, so that the knitting of separate toe-pieces is entirely unnecessary.

This blank is out along the lines 142 and 142a,

leaving relatively small waste areas 141. The

heel portions Rh and the toe portions Rt and the full-fashioned stocking. A brief resume of the instep portions I are clearly indicated in the drawings.

'- Fig. 25 shows a blank which has been cut from the large piece of material shown in Fig. 24, having reinforced heel tabs Rh and a toe memher Rt.

Fig. 26 shows the method of cutting the blank shown in Fig. 25 so as to produce an instep I hav- .90 method of operation of the improved machine, with the supplemental knitting bar, is as follows. 4 Two of the knitting bars operate to produce a warp knit fabric of any suitable type. It is to be understood that we do not wish to limit the invention to any particular method of producing the main warp knit fabric and that we are not to be restricted to the use of two knitting bars for producing the main warp knit fabric.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Fig. l and in the other figures, (save Figs. 2 and 15), the cam mechanism previously described serves to operate the plate 104 at predetermined intervals, this depending upon the size and longitudinal spacing of the reinforced zones. The slide 76 can 105 move freely with respect to the plate 104, because the slot 105 is long enough to permit this. The automatic .movement of the plate 104, automatically moves the supplemental guides of the supplemental knitting bar into and out of action (with respect to the needles N) at predetermined intervals, and this determines the lengths of the reinforced zones and their longitudinal spacing. The automatic mechanism previously'described also operates through the pulley 52 to horizontally shift the banks of supplemental guides, so as to vary the lateral spacing of the reinforced zones, I if this is-desired.'

The use of the supplemental pulley on the, slide 76a permits greater variation in the longitudinal. arrangement of the reinforced zones. For example, the preferred fabric which is shown in Fig. 24, may have the knitting of the toe portions Rt controlled by the movement of the plate 114 while the knittingof the heel portions may be governed by the control provided by the plate 104.

According to our invention, the reinforcing threads which are supplied by the auxiliary or third needle bar are continuously interknit with the main warp threads which are supplied with 130 the ordinary needle bars, so that the loops of the reinforced areas are provided with extra thread and said extra thread coincides throughout with the main threads which form said loops. Referring to Fig. .14, for example, it will be 135 noted that the guides of the supplemental or auxiliary knitting bar are arranged in sets and that the guides of each set are directly adjacent each other in order to reinforce each designated area at each and every part thereof.

While we have shown a complete mechanism, we do not wish to have our invention limited thereto, as the mechanism shows numerous val uable sub-combinations.

We claim: 145

1. A warp knitting machine having needles and knitting bars, said machine being provided with a supplemental knitting bar, said supplemental knitting bar having guide mounts slidably located thereon, and automatic means adapted to shift 150 said guide mounts with respect to said supplemental knitting bar at predetermined intervals.

2. In a warp knitting machine, a knitting bar having sets of guides slidably mounted thereon, a pulley connected to said knitting bar so that said pulley and said knitting bar move simultaneously and equally in a horizontal direction, and a wire connected to said pulley, said wire having a plurality of runs, at least one of which is connected to said sets of guides, so that the turnings of said pulley horizontally shifts said guides.

3. In a warp knitting machine, a knitting bar having sets of guides slidably mounted thereon, a pulley connected to said knitting bar so that said pulley and said knitting bar move simultaneously and equally in a horizontal direction, and a wire connected to said pulley, said wire having a plurality of runs, at least one of which is connected to said sets of guides, so that the turnings of said pulley horizontally shifts said guides, and automatic mechanism adapted to turn said pulley in one direction and in the opposite direction at predetermined intervals.

4. In a warp knitting machine, a knitting bar, sets of guides on said knitting bar, said guides being movable laterally with respect to said knitting bar, and automatic mechanism adapted to actuate said guides laterally with respect to said knitting bar at predetermined intervals.

5. In a warp knitting machine, supplemental knitting bar plates mounted on said knitting bar, slides mounted on said plates and laterally movable with respect to said knitting bar, guides carried by said slides, and actuating means for actuating said slides laterally with respect to said knitting bar, said actuating means including a pulley and a wire connected to said pulley, said wire having a plurality of runs, said pulley being mounted upon a mount which is horizontally slidable with respect to said knitting bar.

6. In a warp knitting machine, supplemental knitting bar plates mounted on said knitting bar, slides mounted on said plates and laterally movable with respect to said knitting bar, guides carried by said slides, and actuating means for actuating said slides laterally with respect to said knitting bar, said actuating means including a pulley and a wire connected to said pulley, said wire having a plurality of runs, said pulley being mounted upon a mount which is horizontally slidable with respect to said knitting bar, and automatic means adapted to turn said pulley in one direction and in the opposite direction at predetermined intervals.

MALCOLM G. VAN ARSDALE. LAWRENCE w. GRIFFIS.

Hill 

